What's Next? Re: The Montreal Gig.

Sorry for the lack of communication. I was in the Bluegrass State from Thurs. evening to Sunday, evening. One of the jobs that I did there, was unhook my stepdad's old, busted-ass computer and hook up his sweet new Dell computer. So, internet access was a little spotty. In addition to that, I was constantly on the run and/or holed up with meds, fighting a head cold. I spent almost all of Saturday, curled up under blankets, watching "Ratatouille" with my mom. (A pretty nice Saturday, as they go.) So, communication and progress on this Montreal gig was slow.

On Friday evening, I got a text message from Matt, telling me that the video was up for viewing. I went to the link that he sent me and watched it. It was 90% there, needing a few cosmetic fixes. I sent him an email with my notes and he whipped out the 2.0 version of the video, less than 30 minutes later. My family was at my mom's house on Friday night and they made me keep showing them, over and over again, until everyone had seen it once or twice. (everyone except my mom, who was busy hosting the get-together. I promised to send her a link to it, before it got taken down by Matt.)

I also toured around the Cir que casting website and learned new info about the gig. (Free housing up until two weeks after a show opens! Comparable pay rates! Free English classes for me and my family, if I get the gig!) I got a little worried when I couldn't find anything about the show listed on their website. But an email to the casting agent revealed that the gig is SO NEW that there's no material about it, out there. They don't even have a name for it, yet. He forwarded me a uber-secret email address to upload my material to, for this gig. Cool. huh?

Today, I got an email from the casting agent, sent out to the three or four of us that were up for the Master of Ceremonies position with the show. Apparently, there's a big meeting on Tuesday, between the producer and the director and they're desperate to look at someone, anyone, for this position. The deadline for submitted materials is still technically the end of the month. But they're asking to see anything that we've got, for the meeting tomorrow.

So, tonight, I'm going home and finishing the resume polish (I need to expand it to show all training and performance history - info that I usually condence for resumes) and then I can upload the headshots, the video and the resume. I will also write a nice letter of introduction and send that too. They should have everything ready for viewing when they walk into the office tomorrow.

I had a moment of reflection on Sunday, as I was in the airport, waiting for my flight home. I am really, really lucky to have the support of so many people, to give me, even a fighting chance, at this gig. Matt and Greg have been immediate supporters, with their quick response to specific materials that I needed. But other people have helped prop me forward to get to this point. John directed me in "V&V" and forwarded along the first email to let me know about the gig. Hendo and Megan cast me in the "BBR" and worked with me for three years. Believe it or not, the three years that I was with that company are very attractive to people who see it on my resume. That was my education about all things Burlesque and Variety Show - oriented. Nothing better than on-the-job experience. My team, International Stinger, supports me and are encouraging me to go for this. My parents back me, 100%. Friends and family have said, unanimously, "You've got to go for it." I owe my chance at this, to those people, and others.

EDITED TO ADD: Matt just posted the video on the Youtubes. THIS is what we're sending to Cir que later tonight. (Please keep in mind, they've requested videos that show movement onstage and interraction with audience, in the style of the character. They've also requested 45 seconds of me, out of character, addressing the viewers, directly. So, when that moment comes up, try not to squirm in discomfort, too much. It's what they wanted. Otherwise, this is precisely what I wanted the video to look like. Let's see if it snags an audition for me.)



Until then,
Mr.B